The historic and quaint city of Oxford must be up there with places like Rome, Paris and London for its wide variety of tours. There are tours by open-topped bus, boat, chauffeur-driven limousine and even on shanks's pony. What everyone from all quarters of the globe comes to see is one of the oldest, most sublime cities in Europe complete with it's historic university.
However, it's not just what can be physically seen that draws so many to the place. Visitors love to saunter around the college cloisters, the pubs and cafes and the riverside and simply soak up the atmosphere, imagining the presence of those thousands of famous people who studied there over the centuries.
Whichever way you choose to sample what the city has to offer ( and we would recommend one of the excellent guided tours to start with ), the following list covers the most popular places and things to do that you should try, however fleetingly.
Balliol College
This beautiful ancient college fascinates visitors with its Harry Potteresque dining hall and its grisly association with the martyrdom at the stake of 4 leading Protestant figures during Mary Tudor's years of terror ( you can still see the scorch marks on one of the doors ). The World's first Oxfam shop is also near by.
Pitts Rivers Museum
Definitely one of the most popular curiosities in the city, this anthropological museum has been accurately described as a ” Victorian Attic “. The genuine shrunken heads are not to be missed.
Magdalen College
If you want to show off your Oxford street cred, make sure you pronounce Magdalen correctly as ” maudlin”. Nestled by the River Cherwell and dating back to the mid 15th Century, this is the archetypal Oxford college with such famous alumni as J. Paul Getty, Oscar Wilde, Dudley Moore and George Osborne.
Christ Church College
This is the largest and definitely one of the must see Oxford colleges but try and time your visit carefully as it's popularity ( as well as the entrance fee ) has also been boosted by its use as a Harry Potter location. Visitors should try and focus on other interesting facts such as the college's ability to produce as many British Prime Ministers (13 ) as all the other 45 colleges put together.
The Turf Tavern
No visit to Oxford is complete without a stop at one of the city's famous old pubs and the Turf is one of the most historic dating back to the 13th Century. Hidden away down a narrow alley, it claims to be the site where U.S. President Bill Clinton, while attending Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, infamously “did not inhale” !
Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
Entrance to this extensive museum is free but there is so much to see and, if time is limited, it is advisable to refer to its website and choose beforehand which sections to visit.
Bill Spectre's Oxford Ghost Trails
An English city as historic as Oxford just has to have its quota of ghosts, real or imaginary, and these evening tours conducted by the incomparable Bill are proving a huge hit with young and old alike. It's also a way of seeing hidden bits of the city that most visitors might otherwise miss.
New College
Ironically considering its name, this college was founded in 1379 and is one of the most popular with visitors who are chiefly attracted to its ornate chapel and its mediaeval stained glass windows. It is also renowned for its extensive gardens.
Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera
One of the oldest libraries in Europe, the building is also instantly recognisable having featured in the first 2 Harry Potter films and numerous episodes of Morse.
The “camera” which houses the Radcliffe Science Library stems from the Italian word for ” Room “.
Sheldonian Theatre
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the Sheldonian boasts stunning architecture and plays host to some excellent classical music concerts.
Martin Wynn
